Combination tubing head and tubing support



,Ana 21, 1945. E. @Nw-:Tfl 4 y 2,383,248

couim'rlon TUBING HEAD AND TUBING SUPPORT Filed-oct.' 2551941v sheets-sheet 1 Lla gwn A v mf l /19 gf/f INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

AUI 21 l945 I E. D. GARRETT 2,383,248

COMBNATI'ON TUBING'HEAD AND lJ .UBING SUPPORT Filed 1m. 42 'Smets-sheet 2 I IJ Patented Aug. 21, 1945 COMBINATION TUBINGHEAD' AND `TUBING sUProR'r OFFICE I ErnestDean Garrett, Shreveport, La., assigner to The Brewster Compan y, Inc., Shreveport, La., a

' f Application october 25, 1941,` serial No. 416,567

(c1. 16s-14) c Claims.

The present` invention relates `to wellhead equipment for `useon high pressure oil and gas or gas distillate wells and more particularly to an improved `tubing head assembly providing a safe,` convenient and economical means for seali118 the space about the Well tubing, together with meansior suspending the tubing. c c

. A primary object of the invention is to provide a, combined tubing support and sealinghead assemblywhich `will be strong and compact, and of such construction as `to provide for adequate sealing, allow for the renewal or repair of the sealing means, and ,which will permit` the raising, lowering androtating `of the tubing without disturbing the effectiveness of the sealing means.

A lfurther object of theinvention is to provide' aFcombinationtubingr support and double seal head` assembly in which the outer sealing means isy easily and `readily accessible so as-to make it possible to renew the seal about the` tubing of a producing oil or; gas well` in a simple, Safe and convenient manner Withoutthe necessity of equipmentforliftingthe tubingin `the Well, and without `the c necessity `of disturbing the tubing sup- Porting means. l i. i

There are',` now in `usesome types of double sealedtubing head assemblies and in such assembliesv most generally used ,an exposed threaded connection is employedto hold such assemblies together. culty in making pressure `tight connections and is easily damaged inoperation. `The main connection nut must be -hammeredto tighten, and this may .cause `injury to gauges and other vital nttings on theassembly.` Also the tubingsupport means are placed `entirely above both the primary andsecondary sealing means. `With the support means locatedfabove both the primary and `secondary, sealing, means, accessfto the sealing meansis difficult, and various other disad- ,'Ihis` type of connection causesdiflivantages and hazards are present in such head assemblies. AThis `entails excessive `and inconvenientheight which adds unnecessary strain to the head "assembly thru vibrationand wind pressure andcausves `general inconvenience in removing` drilling machinery and in other operations around the` well. In additiomthe tubing support meansare exposed causing more rapid deterioration thereof as well as of tubing roughened by suchgsupportmeans.` 1 y l @It is therefore afurther object of the invention to ,provide a compact combnationttubing head and tubing support which will eliminate unnecessary ;height and consequent strain on `the head assembly; a stronger assembly because 0f` the use of flanged connections instead of threaded :connections and the hazards inherent in the tightening of threaded connections areavoided; and wherein the `renewal of the upper sealing element is rendered less hazardous and made more convenient.` j

, A still further object resides in the arrangement wherein the tubing suspensionmeans are enclosed in the `assemblyand areplaced between the primary` and secondary sealing means, which affords protection from exposure to both the suspension means and the tubing renders the top sealing` means readily accessible `for renewal or repair,` and which may be `more easily installed than other apparatus now in general use,

c A still further Iobject resideswn the provision of` means for detecting leakage past the inneror primary sealingmeans of the assembly. y

, AOther objects and advantagesof the invention will be apparent from` the followingj detailed de seription taken in` connection with the accompanying drawings forminga part of this specification and in which drawings* Figure 1 is a ViewY parta vertiealfsection and part in elevation, showing the head assembly of this invention incorporated ina Well control hook-upa i c iV 1,

i Figure 2 is a sectional view substantially on line 2 2 of Figure 3. i

Figure. 3 is a `top plan view `of the combined slipV bowl and stuing box body shown in Figure 2;

4with a portion of the slip hold-downnut broken away.

, Referring to the drawings in detail and wherein like reference characters designate correspondlng parts thruout the several Views, the letter A may generally designate a high pressure well control hook-up-ernbodying a flanged casing head B with `whichis associated the improved tubinghead C of this invention.` The letter D may designate la, `casing pack-01T liange such as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial Number 416,568, led October 25, 1941. i

Theanged casing head B is `,sealed in the` customary manner to the outer casing 5 and sus-` pends an` inner oriintermediategstring of `well casing 6 which is sealed to the outercasing 5 by the pack-ofi ange D as,A disclosed in my` co` pending application referred to. A tubing 8 extends axially thru the inner casing 6 and is suspended therein bythe tubing head-C. The packoi flange Dimay be `omitted if desiredand the tubing head C may be sealed to theuppe'rendof the well casing by means of the flanged casing head B or by anyother means. i:

The tubing head C embodies a tubing head body I having lateral outlets II and upper and lower flanges I2and I3 respectively, the body I0 being sealed to the well casing by the lower flange I3. Associated with the body I0 is a' combined tubing support and double seal head assembly I4 including a combination tubing hanger and primaryl-sealingfmeans .I5 and afn 'outer or secondary sealing means I3.

The upper portion of the body Ill is provided with a tapered or conical seat I1 adapted to receive .the conical slip bowl portion I8 r-'o'f- 'the The bow1 `portion I8 'fis prov hanger means I5. vided at its upper end with a flange I9 and at its lower end with a tubular sleeve `portion .2'0 which is counterbored' from its lower end for receiving a lower or primary packing 2| adapted to effect a seal between the "tubing B and hanger means I5. This packing 2| is made uplotrings having a V-shaped cross section and arranged with the open `fac-e of the-rings downward toward the pressure lso that pressure from within the casing will tend-to expand the packing, causing it to press lagain-st the tubing andiform 'a seal t'hereabout. A gl-and nut 22 threaded iinlto vthe lower end of sleeve serves to retain the packing 22| place. 'The externally tapered surface of the foonic-al 'slip bowl portion I8 vis -annularly -grooved ltolreoeive sealing rings A23 which seat against the tapered seat lI-I andl form -a' seal between th'e body Hl 'and bowl `I8.

Flange 'bolts 224 are passed thru the flanges I2 and l9, nuits 25 and -2-6 are -rthreaded on these v bolts '-24 and serveto force the bowl I8 into the body I0 -to efeot -a-sea1 at the `rings 23.

f tubing head is of the slip Asuspensionty-pe, 'and the bowl-portion IIS provides 'an enclosure for the tubing supporting means. This tubi-ng supporting-means embodies @our tubi-ng support slips leach having a segmental ring portion 3| provided 'on -its inner side with grooves or teeth 32 which engage the tubing -8 for supporting the tubing. Extendinglongitudinally 'along the Aoutside of the 'ring portions 3l are ribs 33 which are` tapered toward the lowervend -of `the lsli-ps `and tor-rn tapered surfaces -for Aseating on the tapered slip seat formed by the tapering inner surface of the slip bowlportion I3. :Extending-externally adjacent the upper end of each yslip ls a flange 34, #and the-central "rib of each slip eX-tends above this flange to 'form ,a shoulder. The adjacent pairs of slips lare coupled together by Imeans of a, U-shaped handle 36 having its arms 31 extending ydowfnwardly th-ru openings in the nanges I34 and headed .as -at 38 to prevent withdrawal of the arms. -Th'us` there are two Ahandles for the four slips, and these handles provide an easy means for handling andvinstallli-ngthe slips. By

lhaving V-the'r'ibs 33 along the edges of the slips terminate 'at the flange 34, `the arcuate hand gripping portions of the handles 36 will be below the shoulders at the upper `ends of. the central ribs 33. The upper end of `the 'slip bowl portion I-8 is internally screw threadedias at-39 to receive y .bored fromits upper end tore'ceive 'a pa'cking 46 which effects a seal between the body portion and the tubing 8. This packing 46 is made up of "V-shaped rings of packing material of such'nature and so arranged that pressure from within will :tend to expand the packing and cause it to effect a seal yabout the 4tubing 8. The packing '4B vis heldln`p1aceby a flanged packing gland 41 forced down .by .nuts 48 threaded on stud bolts 49 which are screwed into the body portion 43.

Thus "the Apacking W6 is easily accessible and replaoeable from the outside without having to ends of the flange bolts '24.

, The tubing can now be disturb the tubing in any manner, by merely removing ythe mitsB' and gland 4l, and without danger fof opening up the Awell and losing-control 'of the same. Y

r'The hanged stuffing box or outer sealing means 'I'S .is adapted to be sealed to fthe tubing hanger l5 by means oinuts 50. threaded on the upper Als-Will be seen, the naxng'e bolts.V 2'4 vhaving @tnreadedfupper politi-ons extend thru the iii-ange 44 so tlratthe nuts '2'6 may loe` turned intoV ven'gagemenit withthe nange IS vof the tubing hanger. I l

.A test valvefll Jis associated 'with the outer sealing vmeans IG in order that any leakage 'pas-t the inner .packing 2l may be easily detected. The body .portion 43lis provided a Itest bore or passageway 53 into the outer yend ofwnlich the test valve 52 is threaded.y The inner end ol this test bore y53 opens tothe -fsealed rarea tor-med between the linnerand fouterpackin'gs 2| v'and 43 respectively, and upon opening of the valve 52., the accumulation of .any pressure area may be easily detected. i l Y 11n 4the installation and-jose of combination tubing and tubing support, upon completing a well the tubing is generally -lowered into the cased well lboreaiterthe tubing headbody 41)A has been' installed on the casingAV heard. The tubing Shanger lo carrying the packing "-21, the holdnown nut 41), and the .nangedvl'stufng b'ox :lie are asserrrbled .in proper order on 'the last loin-tici 'tubing to :be :run but v'not connected by the :bolts 121. 'Whenlthe last `joint of tubi-ng has been lowered into the well, theassenzifbly t5 (less the slips 36.) is vfrttedinfto the tapered seat sIl of 'the tubing head body I0 fand the Llla'nge bolts 2t and .nuts 125 land 26 are nistalled and 'tightened whichv `forms a seal between thebody and assembly lo by .of thesealingr-ings 23. The tubing .is alsoreeetivelyfsealedfon from the `outside or exterior by means tof the' inner packing 21;. 'i 'g v rotated, raised 'or 'lowered, Las it can be moved thru the packing 2li without dangerr :of` damaging the packing, and thus "such operations as :setting 1ra-clins,` ete., can Snow ibe performed. Any pressure that'rrray develop before for afterthe drilling-@uid lis fdisplaced will be ysaite'ly confined to the 'casing by the sealing 'elements 2| and 235 After the tubing is located atthel'desired position, the slips =3-0 are installed )in fplac'e and the hold-down :nut 10 tightened for'flfrolding'the slips `in place. The assembly |16 is then flowered into lp'lace 4on the :sealing ring Mlnnd thenuts A 4U installed tightened forming asealed areav in .this sealed' about the tubing between or'the scope of the following sealingelements 2| and 46. i t Any leakage past the inner or primary sealing element 2| may now be detected by merely opening the test valve 52. In thefevent both packing elements` 2| and 46 becomeidam'aged to i,

the extent that excessive leakage `occurs `past `46, the packing element 46 may be successfully` `renewed by rst removing the gland 41 and any remnants of the old packing 46, and then loosening thenuts 50 `sufficiently to allow escape of gas or other iluid` between ring 42 and flange 44, while installing niew `packing element 46. rlhe nuts llare then tightened to form the seal at the ring 42, and the nuts 48 tightened on the gland 41 `until all leakage is stopped.

Changes in detail may be made `to the form of invention-herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention claims. I claim:` v 1. A combination tubing support and double i seal head, comprising a tubing head bodyhaving `an upper ilange, a tubing supporting means carrier seated in said. body having a `flange at its upper end and primary tubing sealing means at its lower end, a `secondary tubing sealing member having a flange, andiiange bolts and i nuts connecting said body, carrier and sealing t member in assembled relation and permitting removal of the secondary sealingmember independent ofthe connection between the tubing head body and tubing supporting means-carrier.

2. A combination tubing support and double seal head comprising a tubing head body having an upper flange, a tubing support meanscarrier seated in said body having a ilange at its upper end and tubing packing means at its lower end, a secondary sealing member above said carrier having a flange and tubing packing means,`

flange bolts extending thru all of saidilanges, a nut on the lower end of each bolt engaging the under sideaof the ange on the tubing head body, a nut on each bolt engaging the upperside of the ilange cn the support means carrier `for securing the carrier in said body, and a nut on the upper end of each bolt engaging the upper side of the ange on said sealing member for securing said member to the tubing support means.

carrier. t

3. A combination tubing support and double seal head, comprising a `flanged tubing head body, a flanged tubing hanger seated in Saidbody and having tubing packing rings at its lower end, tube engaging slips enclosed in said hanger above the packing rings, a flanged stuffing box above the hanger having accessible tubing packof said flanges, and nuts on each bolt permitting removal of the stuiling box without` disturbing the `connection between said body and hanger. l

4. In a tubing head assemblage the combination of a tubing head body having a passageway therethru, a hanger having a tubing passageway therethru, said body providing seating `means for sealed seating of the hanger insaidlbody, a stufng box casing having a tubing passageway `therethru, llanged upon the stuffing box casing, hanger and body, adjustableibolt and therethru having a downwardly convergent tapered seat, a tubing hanger having a tapered b outer surface seated upon the tapered seat of the body, sealing `means, directly b'etWeenithe tapered surfaces of the hanger'and the tubing ,i

head body, thetubing hanger having a downwardly convergent tapered seat, slip means upon said lastmentioned tapered seat of the tubing hanger for supporting tubing, sealing means carried by the tubing hanger for sealing against the tubing at av location below said tubing supporting` slip means, slip tightening nut means carried by the tubing hanger at the upper end thereof for releasably tightening the slips ing tubing supporting position, a stuiing box casing having a tubing receiving passageway there` through, packing means in said stuffing box casing for sealing off the tubing in respect thereto at a location above the tubing hanger, sealing 2 means directly between said stufng `box casing and tubing hanger, annular outwardly extending 't relatively spaced complementary flanges upon said tubing `head body, tubing hanger and. stuffing rings, means sealing the hanger to :the tubing head body, means sealing the stuffing box `directly to the hanger, bolts extending thru `all ing box casing having aligned bolt receiving openings therein, bolts through said openings having screw threaded portions above the flange of the stuiing box casing and also between the flange of the stuing box casing andthe flange of the tubing hanger, and independently adjustable` nuts upon said threaded portion for tightening upon their` respective bolts for effectively positioning the sealing means between the tubing head body and tubing hanger and between the tubing hanger and stuing box casing.

ERNEST DEAN GAREETT. 

